Pilots test No. 1 Michigan St. in loss

Tuesday

Nov 19, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 19, 2013 at 2:30 AM

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Keith Appling matched a career high with 25 points to help No. 1 Michigan State pull away to beat Portland 82-67 on Monday night in its first game as a top-ranked team in 13 years.

The Associated Press

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Keith Appling matched a career high with 25 points to help No. 1 Michigan State pull away to beat Portland 82-67 on Monday night in its first game as a top-ranked team in 13 years.

The Spartans (4-0) struggled in the first half, leading by four points after seven lead changes and three ties.

Travis Trice's 3-pointer broke a tie with 12:26 left and he followed that up seconds later with a steal and layup. Gary Harris made a 3-pionter — the team's 11th from behind the arc — midway through the second half that put Michigan State ahead by 10 points for the first time.

No. 5 Arizona 100,Fairleigh Dickinson 50

At Tucson, Ariz., Gabe York scored 20 points and Nick Johnson added 16 to lead Arizona in the NIT Season Tip-Off.

Arizona (4-0) allowed the Knights to stay close early before blowing open the game with runs of 18-3 and 18-2 in the first half, keyed by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and T.J. McConnell.

No. 6 Duke 91, UNC Asheville 55

At Durham, N.C., Jabari Parker had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Rodney Hood had 15 of his 18 points in the first half for Duke in the opening round of the NIT Season Tip-Off.

No. 9 Syracuse 56,St. Francis Brooklyn 50

At Syracuse, N.Y., Jerami Grant scored 13 points, including a tying follow with 1:43 left, and set up the go-ahead basket by Michael Gbinije in the final minute for Syracuse in an opening-round game of the Maui Invitational.

No. 16 Florida 67, Southern 53

At Gainesville, Fla., Casey Prather had 10 points and nine rebounds for Florida, which lost point guard Kasey Hill to an ankle injury.

No. 22 UCLA 86, Sacramento St. 50

At Los Angeles, Jordan Adams scored 21 points, including seven straight during a 14-0 second-half run, to lead UCLA.

Adams has led the Bruins (3-0) in scoring in each of their games after breaking his foot to end last season.

Pac-12

California 75, Southern Utah 47

At Berkeley, Calif., Richard Solomon scored seven points as part of an opening 14-0 run and California got another steady performance from Tyrone Wallace.

The Buffs (4-1) played their second game without injured forward Xavier Johnson, but freshman George King picked up the slack by scoring 11 points as a reserve off the bench. He entered the game with three points all season.

Jaron Hopkins contributed 10 as Colorado improved to 48-7 at home under coach Tad Boyle, including 13-0 in November. The Red Wolves (2-2) were led by Melvin Johnson III, who finished with 25 points. Brandon Reed scored all 21 of his points in the second half and Kirk Van Slyke had 15 before fouling out with 8:06 remaining.